group called "newtown united." >> in a meeting at the newtown lie rather more than three dozen citizens gathered last night not just to grieve but to figure out what's next for their community. afterwards we sat down with few of them for an extended conversation. tom bitman is a technology consultant. and this woman a mother of four. scott wolman owns a speakers bureau and james runs an environmental nonprofit. so james let me start with you. what was the impetus for this conversation tonight? >> i think a lot of us were feeling the same thing that we were impacted by this event not as much as some people. but that we felt helpless. we needed an avenue to discuss how we felt about what was going on. >> 20 households lost first graders. 20. those families are shattered. they can't do anything. i feel a bit of a responsibility for others in our community to help, to do something. >> i came because adam lanza and nancy lanza lived 100 yards from my home. and i was shocked and dismayed when i found out that they owned six guns. many of them being assault weapons that, you know, created havo

things attached to the identity of that individual. the scene is secured. newtown police officers, state police, major crime units of western district and central district have responded and are working with several agencies to process this scene. it is not a simplistic scene as you can certainly understand. we need to establish identity, document the entire scene and simply stated, answer every single question surrounding exactly how and why this incident occurred. as the governor said, we will be here through the night and the weekend and we're not putting a time stamp on this as to when we'll complete this project. we'll work with the medical examiner's office, establish positive identification and a great deal of work to be done here at the school. again, very brief questions but understand that this is an active ongoing case and many things we cannot and will not discuss at this time. yes, sir? >> told there's two other crime scenes of the suspect's father-in-law and mother-in-law. >> there is a secondary crime scene here in newtown. that is, in fact, correct. there is an adu

group now that has formed in newtown, my husband and i are a part of, called newtown united. i very much tonight would like to ask the nation to join us. because we are not looking -- like he said, we are not looking to ban guns. what we are looking for is a civil discussion on gun control, mental health, and school safety and school facilities. so that we as a nation can work together very, very civilly to come up with a solution. what andre said, it's not partisan, is exactly how we feel. all the people around the country, all of my other friends across the country to join us. if they want to do that, we have a facebook page, newtown united. they should jump on that and join us in that so we can create a critical mass to show washington that we're serious about this. we want them to work together. >> you were saying today you left the house at 9:00 a.m. this morning. you haven't been home. you've been going wakes and funerals. >> all day. >> all day long. >> my husband coined a term which is awful, but it's an assembly line of wakes and funerals. we can't figure out which one to g

emergency responders from the visitation of spiritual growth, james sibley newtown united baptist church. you see the president looking on in the auditorium. ♪ >> . [singing prayer] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> in the name of god, compassionate and merciful. the muslim community in newtown, connecticut, and the nation join with our fellow americans grieving for those who died in this senseless tragedy and praying for them and their families. we ask god to grant those lost a special place in paradise and we ask their families to be granted the strength to endure the unendurable. it is in such times of almost unbearable loss that we seek the comfort with our creator and that artificial divisions of faith fall away to reveal a nation of mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, all united in a desire to bring renewed hope. the koran, text tells us that god's mercy and compassion are without limits and always available for those who ask. god says when my servants question you about me, tell me that i am here. i answer the prayer of every person who calls on me. chapter 2, verse 186

it is not for gun owners. >> joy, i was in newtown, connecticut, and today flew across the country. here i was in los angeles, as far away as i could be from connecticut in the continental united states. and i'm greeted today by the los angeles times lead headline saying the police chief of los angeles saying this is a new reality. those are his words, and that is why he is going to re-deploy los angeles police to cover every elementary school and middle school in the los angeles school district every day. there will be a uniformed police presence at every school at some point in every day of the school year. this is an extraordinary nationwide reaction to what happened in connecticut. and i have to say, i am convinced that this is not like any reaction we've seen before to one of these mass murders. >> yeah, absolutely, and what a shame, right, to have to live in a country where you have to have armed police officers protecting your children. i mean the one place that your children are supposed to be safe outside of your home is school. they're in local areas from their moms and d

now. we're here in newtown, connecticut. we're awaiting word, officials word of the victims, the names of the victims. we want to welcome our viewers not only here in the united states but around the world who are watching. this story certainly has resonated around the world. certainly left with a lot of questions that still need answers this morning. we learning possible, the possible motive of the shooter, the 20-year-old adam lanza. police say they have a good sense of what was going on. they haven't released the information yet. say he killed his mother before the rampage at the school where he then took his own life. cnn's mary snow joining us from outside the lanza home in newtown, connecticut. what have we learn good adam lanza, this 20-year-old man? are we learning more about the motive? the police seem to think they have a pretty good idea of what was going on. >> reporter: yeah, they are picking up information, wolf. and you know, shortly after yesterday's horrific shooting, police were on the scene here at the lanza home where it's believed adam lanza lived with his mo

and prayer for the emergency responders from the visitation of spiritual growth, james sibley newtown united baptist church. you see the president looking on in the auditorium. ♪ >> . [singing prayer] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> in the name of god, compassionate and merciful. the muslim community in newtown, connecticut, and the nation join with our fellow americans grieving for those who died in this senseless tragedy and praying for them and their families. we ask god to grant those lost a special place in paradise and we ask their families to be granted the strength to endure the unendurable. it is in such times of almost unbearable loss that we seek the comfort with our creator and that artificial divisions of faith fall away to reveal a nation of mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, all united in a desire to bring renewed hope. the koran, text tells us that god's mercy and compassion are without limits and always available for those who ask. god says when my servants question you about me, tell me that i am here. i answer the prayer of every person who calls on me

organization called newtown united will send a delegation to dc. the group is calling for better gun control to prevent a similar tragedy from this happening in another community. hundreds of people marched from capitol hill to the national rifeel association -- rifeel association's dc -- rifle association's dc office. michael bloomberg joined victims of gun violence to address the issue how easy it is to get being a stows gun. even long time supporters of gun rights say it's time to talk about regulating guns e joe manchin is open to discussing restricts of assault weapons like the one used in the -- restrictions of assault weapons like the one used in the shooting. >> i don't know anyone in the hunting or sporting arena that uses a assault rifle or 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting. >> reporter: and you can expect the gun control debate to return to annapolis when lawmakers head back to work in january for the new session. some legislators are calling for an all out ban on assault weapons in maryland. linda so, abc2 news. >>> remember fine -- find latest information on abc2news.com. there'

newtown united methodist church and where a lot of the media are camped out. there's the church behind me. it's been opened now for 24 hours. it's going to be open more 24 hours for as long as they need it here. some of the members of that church died and anyone who wants to come by and pay their respects to the people who died, anyone who needs help from this church, they can come here and get it. after this shooting inside sandy hook elementary school, the safety issue will now be front and center at schools across the country. do classrooms need to be changed into panic rooms or as i've been saying earlier, can we make classrooms into mini prisons? it seems like what we may have to make our schools in order to be safe. i want to bring in lou palumbo. some schools already have roaming officers, metal detectors, officers roaming the hallways. what can we do to make our schools safer? do we need all of these measures in place? >> well, apparently based on this incident that took place up here yesterday, i guess you could support that argument. it's just unfortunate to think that we're goi

the newtown united methodist church and where a lot of the media are camped out. they give preschool classes, ages two to six, sadly some of those kids have died there's the church behind me. it's been opened now for 24 hours. it's going to be open 24 hours for as long as they need it here. some of the members of that church died and anyone who wants to come by and pay their respects to the people who died, anyone who needs help from this church, they can come here and get it. after this shooting inside sandy hook elementary school, the safety issue will now be front and center at schools across the country. do classrooms need to be changed into panic rooms or as i've been saying earlier, can we make classrooms into mini prisons? it seems like what we may have to make our schools in order to be safe. i want to bring in lou palumbo. he is a former police officer and now the director of a lead intelligence based security firm some schools already have roaming officers, metal detectors, officers roaming the hallways. what can we do to make our schools safer? do we need all of these meas

on in the nation's capitol. >> reporter: a newly formed grass roots organization called newtown united will send a delegation to dc calling for better gun control to prevent a similar tragedy from happening in another community. hundreds marched from capitol hill to the national rifeel association dc's office yesterday. -- rifeel association rifeel association's dc office -- rifle association's dc office. even some long time supporters of gun rights like joe manch n say it's time to talk about regulating guns and says he is open to -- manchin says it's time to talk about regulating guns. boughtmore county police chief -- baltimore county police chief is calling for restriction on high capacity magazines. >> we also need a limit on high capacity ammunition magazines. no more than 10 rounds no more than 10 rounds. >> reporter: and you can expect the gun control debate to return to annapolis when lawmaker head back to work in january for the new session. some lawmakers are calling for an all out ban on assault weapons in maryland. linda so, abc2 news. >>> 5:40. another hot topic a

should move beyond dialogue. we need answers. >> reporter: newtown united is calling for better gun control. it plans to send a delegation to washington on tuesday. >> we have the benefit and the miss fortune of being on -- misfortune of being on the national stage right now. this is a real opportunity for us to make a statement. >> reporter: schools will reopen tuesday but sandy hook elementary will be closed till further notice. >> one of the victims in the newtown shooting spree has a daughter that attends georgetown university. katie sherlach is a ph.d. candidate in chemistry. her mom was the school psychologist at sandy hook elementary and one of the heroes who tried to stop the gunman. they have lunched a fund raising campaign with the goal of collecting at least $5,000 for the sherlach family. >>> advocates for gun control are hoping that the actions of newtown is enough to spark debate. >> reporter: i'm kristin fish other capitol hill where today about 200 people marched to the nra headquarters with this message. >> let's stop all the assault weapons. >> i'm here because i'm

our number one obligation which is to protect our children. >> newtown united is calling for better gun control. the goal is to prevent a similar nightmare from striking another community. we do something now and take some action be proactive. >> some get ready to go back to school on tuesday parents learned about new precautions that will be in place there will be policed and grief counselors present. >> the gun control debate is heating up closer to home, and illinois senator and the governor are all calling for stricter gun control laws. >> it did not take long for gun control advocates to speak up in the state of illinois is an issue for the gun advocates behind me something that strikes at the heart of a constitutional right. the issue of today is we need to ban assault weapons in illinois. >> state democrats were reading off the same script monday reacting to the connecticut school shooting. assault weapons have been used over and over again to kill innocent human beings in our state and elsewhere and we have to do something about it. at rainbow push headquarters denied a vigi

newtown, my husband and i are apart of called newtown united. i very much tonight would like to ask the nation to join us. we are not, like we said, we are not looking to ban guns, we are looking for a civil discussion on gun control, mental health, school safety and school facilities so that we as a nation can work together to come up with a solution. what andre said is how we feel. all the people around the country, all of my other friends across the country to join us. we have a facebook page they should jump on that and we can create a critical mass some show washington to work together. >> you were saying today, you have been going to wakes and funerals all day long. >> my husband coined a term which is awful, an assembly line of wakes and funerals. we can't figure out which one to go to we have to divide and conquer. the sandy hook teachers are struggling trying to get to as many as possible. and that is true for many of the parents we are struggling with that. >> you are often waiting two hours to get into pay your respects. two to five hours it is freezing cold and yesterday tha

here in the united states. thanks, fareed. really appreciate it. >> reporter: faith tested by tragedy. we're going to hear from a newtown sunday school teacher about how she's talking to her students about what happened. [ male announcer ] research suggests cell health plays a key role throughout our lives. one a day men's 50+ is a complete multivitamin designed for men's health concerns as we age. it has 7 antioxidants to support cell health. one a day men's 50+. ♪ but the fire is so delightful ♪ nothing melts away the cold like a hot, delicious bowl of chicken noodle soup from campbell's. ♪ let it snow, let it snow >> reporter: president obama has a message for all of us in the aftermath of the massacre here in newtown. these tragedies, he says, they must end. at a prayer service last night, the president said he wants the people of this heartbroken community to know they are not alone. >> i come to offer the love and prayers of a nation. i am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts. i can only hope it helps fo

newtown residents has formed themselves into a group called newtown united. there is not necessarily people who have been politically active in the past or who have had any experience trying to change policies or get certain law enacted. but some members of newtown united headed to washington today. they took the day off from their jobs. they woke up at dawn. they drove to washington to go meet with members of the brady campaign to prevent gun violence. newtown united, a group of people at the epicenter of national tragedy. one of the parents who traveled to washington today was lucky enough to have his child, who attends sandy hook elementary come home from that school on friday. but he said today that he is taking action now in the wake of the shootings because he does not think the next time it should just depend on luck. >> every time something like columbine, virginia tech were happening, i would avert my eyes, and i will still think that something will be done. but all those believes were shattered on friday. and now i think we all need to speak up. >> joining us now for the in

ellen o'toole. mary ellen, welcome to the program on a very, very difficult day for newtown, connecticut, for the united states, for every parent out there. what do we know for the little that we know about the suspect? what can you deduce? >> well, from what i've heard so far, and it seems like it's changing every couple of minutes, is that the mother of this shooter was working or was an employee at the school. it's still a little confusing to me. i understand that she is also deceased. and what i'm hearing is that she was found at the school. so if that fact pattern is correct, that her son is the shooter, then what makes sense is that this really did start off as a familial problem, a dispute likely between the mother and the son, and it certainly escalated to unbelievable proportions. what they've been looking at right now is if that, in fact, is the case they would be looking for evidence of that search warrant and in the background that they are developing on both the mother and the shooter. >> mary ellen, we understand that a lot of the schools across the district ha

united unlocked. nyse euronext. unlocking the world's potential. megyn: this is a fox news alert. new reaction from the white house this hour to the tragic mass shooting in newtown, connecticut. brand new hour here of "america live", welcome, everyone. i'm megyn kelly. we have new video from the growing memorials in newtown. the first funeral services were scheduled to start about an hour ago. two 6-year-old boys laid to rest after a crime the president says reminds just how precious and fragile, look at those faces a parent's relationship with their child can be. >> there is only one thing we can be sure of. and that is the love that we have. for our children, for our families, for each other. the warmth of a small child's embrace. that is true. the memories we have of them, the joy that they bring, the wonder we see through their eyes. that fierce and boundless love we feel for them. a love that takes us out of ourselves and bind us to something larger. we know that's what matters. we know we're always doing right when we're taking care of them. when we're teaching them well. when w

but how much can president obama actually do to create change the latest from newtown and the bigger implications this incident may have on the united states we want those friends down the street. it was time for the president was very jay carney talks transparency at a white house briefing designed claiming to be the most transparent administration in history there are more than a few dark spots on the president's record but also some light on the issue straight ahead. is monday december seventeenth five pm in washington d.c. my name is christine for you're watching our team. let's begin with a closer look at a shocking problem taking place inside the walls of the v.a. hospital veterans inside say drug abuse is so rampant that it's bringing people off the street to buy and sell drugs inside the hospital walls r.t. correspondent liz wall spoke to one of the veterans and brings us an inside look of a problem those in charge seem to be aware of but want to simply ignore. the department of veterans affairs administers health care to military veterans with an annual budget of over eighty

. >> and this last hour on the senate floor. >> i ask that the united states senate observe a moment of silence to honor the victims of the sandy hook elementary school tragedy. >> today, newtown starts the first of 26 funerals. two students will be laid to rest this afternoon. first is jack pinto. a new york giants fan. smart kid. number 8, victor cruz, on sunday the giants star cruz wore jack's name on the cleats. also being laid to rest today, 6-year-old noah pozner calling his twin sister his best friend. she was in another classroom and she

small sandy hook elementary school in newtown, connecticut. the president of the united states will be speaking on this issue at 3:15 p.m. eastern from the white house press briefing room. we'll have live coverage of that. we're also awaiting remarks from the governor of connecticut, dannel malloy. much more coming up. we're following the breaking news, a horrific, horrific story, one of the largest mass killings in a school in the united states, in u.s. history, the story is unfolding right now. if you think running a restaurant is hard, try running four. fortunately we've got ink. it gives us 5x the rewards on our internet, phone charges and cable, plus at office supply stores. rewards we put right back into our business. this is the only thing we've ever wanted to do and ink helps us do it. make your mark with ink from chase. >>> you are looking at images that we are now multiple hours into this horrific, horrific crime that has happened in this small sleepy new england town of newtown, connecticut. at this elementary school, the call came in to 911 around 9:30 this morning, a gu

things. the scene has been secured. newtown police officers, state police major crime units for western district and central district have responded and are working with several agencies to process this scene. it is not a simplistic scene. we need to establish identity. we need to document the entire scene. we need to answer every single question surrounding exactly how and why this incident occurred. as the governor said we will be here through the night, certainly through the weekend and we are not putting a time stamp on completion. we will work with the medical examiner and establish positive identification l is a great deal of work that needs to be done. we will take very brief questions. this is an active ongoing situation. >> we are told there are two other crime scenes? >> there is a secondary crime scene in newtown, that is correct. there is an adult deceased at that location. i cannot discuss anymore information on that. there is assistance being lended to us by new jersey. i don't have the details. (inaudible). >> i can state the information we have right now the shoo

or the united states postal service. newt nu newtown is warming people's hearts. son yeas contributing to a fund for children with aids in malwali. newtown is kindling kindness in her and millions more. >> when i first heard of the tragedy it gave me a really heavy heart. i think this is a we to show people that -- the world is not all evil. >> it first began with nbc's ann curry posing the question on twitter -- what if we all did something nice. 20 nice somethings to honor the children or 26 acts of kindness to include the teachers lost. the hash tag began trending and people are responding. this d.c. resident tweeted. her 3-year-old donated two toys for tots. or this person, who paid for some one else's breakfast. at your nearest post office, there is a way for you to send condolences, directly to newtown. >> i thought a great idea. >> this po box now offers a way for the world to comfort the grief stricken town. >> i think it is fantastic to give people -- a way to focus their, sympathy for everyone up there. >> reporter: now there are two big questions, to go along wi

sure there's some sort of infrastructure for when -- in particular, i'm involved with newtown united, a group trying to put together essentially an advocacy infrastructure for when they want to talk. they want to move the conversation. the national conversation to where i think a majority of people in america want it to go, on all matters related to gun violence. it's going to be there for them. and there's so many things like that that are happening, whether it's a memorial for the children and the educators, all that's going to happen. this community is going to rally around and support these people in any direction that they want us to go. >> and outside the community too. lots of support. robert cox writes for reuters "breaking views," and he's also a newtowner. >>> "outfront," next, student hot survived a mass shooting in minnesota seven years ago drive to newtown, connecticut, to be with the sandy hook survivors. we'll tell you what they presented to the staff and students to help them cope. >>> we remember the victims of sandy hook who lost their lives a week ago. people have dou

commissioned in the wake of the newtown tragedy. vice president joe biden will hold his first official meeting today. the group will develop proposals aimed at reducing gun violence in the united states and must put together a set of recommendations by january. cabinet members joining biden on the panel include attorney general eric holder and education secretary arne duncan, homeland security janet napolitano and health and human services katherine seen liss. the brady campaign to prevent gun violence says it will continue pressing the issue. the group is out with a new public service announcement saying we're better than this. >> we're better than a nation with mass shooting. >> we're better than 32 more gun murders every day. >> we are better than the nation that allows convicted felons or people who are dangerously mentally ill to go to gun shows. >> to go on the internet and buy as many guns as they want without any background check. >> the psa is part of an overall campaign that will feature celebrities and victims of gun violence meant to overcome partisan politics surrounding g

been listening to some of the first units from newtown police that were there. and, you know, you train for an active shooter scenario, but you hope you never have to use it. but sounds, john, that these first responders, the law enforcement, when they went in, they knew exactly what they had to do. and their job was to make sure these kids were safe, that these kids were either hunkered down, but they were going after that gunman. and try to neutralize this person. but we heard that law enforcement did not fire a shot. but the coordination between law enforcement, fire, and ems sounded like it was textbook. even though there were so many victims inside that school. >> mike brooks, thank you so much for being with us this morning. the investigation into this or horrific scene, this awful tragedy, it does continue. >>> meanwhile, she is being remembered as caring, someone who loved her students, more on the principal who lost her life in this tragic connecticut school shooting. but first, while investigators families and the nation try to make sense of this entire situation, we will be t

befallen this community. i assured him that connecticut, ne newtown, and sandy hook are strong and i welcomed him on your behalf to our community. i now introduce the president of the united states. [ applause ] >> thank you. thank you. thank you, governor, to all the families, first responders, the community of newtown, clergy, gues guests. scripture tells us, do not lose heart. though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. the light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. what is seen is temporary. what is unseen is eternal. for we know that the earthly area we live in is destroyed, we have a house in god. the eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. we gather here in memory of 20 beautiful children and six remarkable adults. they lost their lives in a school that could have been any school, in a quiet town full of good and decent people that could be any town in america. here in newtown, i come to offer the love and prayers of

this tragedy. margaret brennan is at the newtown united methodist church with more on that. good morning, margaret. >> reporter: good morning anthony. there are only a few homes here and now 27 lives to put to rest. only two children made it to the hospital before dying. the rest died at the school alongside their teacher and principal. 47-year-old dawn hochsprung was shot and killed alongside the children she cared for at sandy hook elementary school. parents remember her as a friend to the students. >> she was wonderful. always good to the kids always a smile on her face made you feel good when you were there. >> reporter: she joined the school in 2010. she kept an active twitter account posting updates on the school. she tweeted safety first at sandy hook. it's a beautiful day for our evacuation drill. so far we know the identities of three of her students. 7-year-old. emily parker who moved to connecticut with her family just a year ago and chase kowalski survived by his parents rebecca and steve. also among the dead school psychologist mary sherlock 56 years old. she planned

newtown were besieged with media. to this day we found reserved scottish reticent to speak. the one public way the parents are working through the grief to push now what is a major topic in the united states, gun control. petitions and grassroots advocacy leading to laws banning almost all handgun use in the u.k., once again the father. >> they asked me my views on anything like that. the boys were six or seven, he had a gun. >> reporter: other things we heard, recommit yourself to family, to religion and get back into a routine as soon as possible. their advocacy led to changes in school safety as well and child supervision. we also heard from the father, bill you never, never forget the tragedy and in the words of that father, she never leaves my head. back to you. bill: thank you, greg. greg palkot looking back as we look forward. martha: on that note we are waiting to hear now from president obama on a new effort to come up with legislation in the wake of the newtown massacre. so what is on the table, in terms of any possible solution for the future? a live report just ahead. (a

comprehend that someone could do this. the people in newtown are feeling the same way: grief. shock. last night's vigil with all the states and towns coming together and having the president of the united states there to speak from his heart and i saw a man speak as a father as much as a president, and that was a very important part of the healing process. this week will probably be as tough as any, dealing with putting to rest those 20 young children but it is part of the grieving process. >> how many more funerals do you plan on attending? >> well, i am going to try to give to at many as i can and pay my respects and lend my prayers to the family who suffered so much. i have gotten so many calls from people all over the place offering to help which is so, we are so thankful for that and i asked them to continue to bring in whatever they want to, for the families, for the people in town, for the rest of the children and teachers and administrators who were in the school that day. they have a long road ahead of them, as well. >> i want you to know how many people i have met today th

the united states and around the world. i'm wolf blitzer reporting live right now from newtown, connecticut. the 20 children gunned down in their own elementary school were 6 and 7 years old. they were practically babies, as the people here in newtown, connecticut, mourn. we now know the names of the victims of the school massacre. authorities releasing the list just a little while ago. we're also learning just how brutally they died. the medical examiner says, every one of the 26 victims were shot more than once, apparently with a semiautomatic. the relatives of the shooter are struggling to competent when the loss of life, including nancy, who was gunned down by her son. no word on a motive. police say they have found very good evidence at the school and at the lanza home. for more right now on the investigation, let's bring in our national correspondent, susan candiotti, here in newtown, connecticut. with all of us, she's working her sources. what's the latest, susan? >> reporter: hi, wolf. of course, the question is what move a 20-year-old young man to target so many innoce